Yes, Runway 34 is based on a true story because its thrilling plot is inspired by real events. Runway 34 is a 2022 Hindi-language thriller film produced and directed by Ajay Devgn under Devgn Films banner. The film features Ajay Devgn in the lead role, with Rakul Preet Singh, Amitabh Bacchan and Boman Irani in supporting roles.
Runway 34 draws from a notable aviation incident involving Jet Airways flight 9W 955 from Doha in Qatar to Kochi in India, which happened on 17th August 2015. Even though the movie’s plot is rooted in the 2015 Jet Airways event, it takes multiple creative liberties for thrill and drama purposes.
Overview of the Real Events
Runway 34 is a recreation of the events that took place at Kochi International Airport on 17th August 2015. On that fateful day, a Jet Airways flight 9W 955 reached Kochi from Doha, Qatar at 5 am. However, the flight encountered poor visibility due to fog and rain upon arrival at Kochi International Airport. At this point of time, the flight, carrying 141 passengers and 8 crew members, had around 4,844 kgs of fuel remaining.
The flight made three unsuccessful landing attempts. Finally, the flight was diverted to Trivandrum. Visibility was a big issue at Trivandrum airport as well. The crew performed additional go-arounds, totalling six failed approaches across both airports. Eventually, the pilots declared “May Day” and managed to the land plan “blindly” on the seventh attempt, with critically low fuel level at around 349 kg.
No passengers or crew members were injured. However, the flight captain’s decision to land the plane blindly caused a lot of controversy. Consequently, the captain was demoted to co-pilot for risking the lives of almost 150 people. While a section of the public hailed him as a hero, many termed his actions as reckless.
Depiction in the Movie
Runway 34 is an adaptation from real incidents, with a lot of dramatisation to keep the audience engaged. The flight route has been changed from Qatar-Kochi to Dubai-Kochi. A number of fictional elements have been added in the movie. These include courtroom investigation, passenger death from heart attack, alcohol involvement and the ability of the captain to land with his eyes closed.